How to Turn Off AMBER Alerts and Other Loud Notifications

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are crucial tools for public safety. Introduced in 2012, these alerts serve various purposes, including severe weather warnings, public safety alerts and AMBER Alerts, which are urgent bulletins about missing children. They may also occasionally broadcast test alerts to make sure the system is working.

An AMBER Alert is a broadcast law enforcement agencies send to the public when a child's condition meets criteria suggesting abduction or danger. The term “child” refers to anyone aged 17 or younger. They're just one example of using wireless technology to fight crime.

The acronym AMBER stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, and it was inspired by an actual child named Amber Hagerman. Since the implementation of the WEA system, AMBER Alerts have been broadcast on various platforms, including mobile phones, making it easier to spread vital information quickly.

Hearing an emergency alert can save your life or the life of another, but you still may want to opt out of getting them. They can be disruptive and may be a deal-breaker if you're contending with a light-sleeping infant or work in a library.

Fortunately, both iPhone and Android devices offer options to manage these alerts.

On iPhone

To turn off iPhone AMBER Alerts, follow these steps:

This process can be reversed if you decide to enable the alerts again later. Additionally, you can toggle off other emergency notifications such as Public Safety Alerts, Test Alerts and Emergency Alerts.

On Android

The steps to disable AMBER Alerts on Android phones vary slightly, depending on the version and manufacturer:

Steps for Android 12 and Higher

Steps for Android 9

Samsung phones and other devices might have slight variations, so it's essential to check your specific model's settings menu for precise instructions.

Despite the potential annoyance, keeping emergency alerts enabled has significant benefits. AMBER Alerts and other emergency notifications are instrumental in saving lives and providing critical information.

For instance, in 2023, the US Department of Justice reported that 1,200 children were recovered due to AMBER Alerts.

These alerts also serve as a lifeline during severe threats, such as natural disasters or public safety emergencies.

Keeping the emergency alerts enabled on your phone can ensure you receive timely information about severe threats and missing persons, potentially saving lives and aiding in the recovery of missing children (or in the case of Silver Alerts, missing people who are elderly or cognitively impaired).

The AMBER Alert system came to be after a tragic event in 1996. Nine-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas. Despite a massive search effort, Amber was found murdered four days later.

Her case spurred the creation of the AMBER Alert system, named in her honor, to more rapidly disseminate information about missing children to the public.

As for how it got on our phones, that traces back to the Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act of 2006. This legislation mandated the creation of the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee by the FCC. This laid the groundwork for what we now know as the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system.

FEMA provides the necessary training and tools to help designated local officials create and disseminate these alerts effectively. The collaboration between the FCC, FEMA and private cellular providers aimed to push crucial emergency information directly to our phones.

While the option to disable AMBER and other emergency alerts is available, it’s important to weigh the convenience against the potential benefits. Public safety alerts play a crucial role in keeping communities safe and informed.

We updated this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.